JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
After more than 10 years of continuous combat involving the United States military, operations in Iraq recently came to a close, while the end of operations in Afghanistan continue - with an anticipated end date projected, but yet to be finalized. It is important for all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to begin to reflect on and assess their professional situation.
Do you know what direction your service is headed? Do you know your role and do you know what your unit's mission and organization will be in the coming months and years - and why?
Not a week goes by without a major news publication publishing an article regarding pending Department of Defense budget cuts or forecasted military manpower reductions. Likewise, articles on the internet news sites and cable news networks are quick to focus on the overall budget dilemma facing our country and the corresponding negative impact on the DoD. Without a doubt, turbulent times are coming to the military with significant changes looming right around the corner. It is reasonably safe to say that the next 10 years will not look like, feel like or be resourced anything like the last 10 years for today's active and Reserve forces.
Complicating the issue is the realization that today's mid-career and junior grade officers and enlisted members who joined the military after September 11, 2001 have not experienced a military that is resourced and focused on training. During the past 10 years, the focus has been fighting wars. This will create a knowledge gap; however, the perception of some that the military as we know it today will no longer exist in a few years is simply not true. Just as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines did before us, it is our responsibility today to stop and reflect on the lessons we have learned as a professional military that has spent many years at war.
Professionally, you can conduct an assessment of your units' role and the mission that it is asked to accomplish today. I recently had the opportunity to attend a commander's conference with my headquarters, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command located at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. During the conference, one of the major points of discussion centered on the role of the organization today, its' mission and the direction the organization is headed in the upcoming years. Throughout history, United States military institutions have been criticized during post war periods for preparing for the next conflict by "re-fighting the last war" or being too attached to legacy weapon systems and programs. But it does not have to be that way.
During the conference, the command focused on how the organization has changed and evolved during the past 10 years and what direction senior leaders believed it was heading. Additionally, hard questions were asked such as, "what missions and business processes that the command has adopted over the last 10 years will be institutionalized and which ones will be divested as the operational tempo decreases?" Additional questions to analyze could include:
How well do we perform our core competencies? How can we improve on what we do today? How has your unit's organization changed during the last 10 years? Does it allow you to accomplish your mission today? Will it in the future? Or will your unit even be needed as your service moves towards future joint operating concepts that are currently in development?
Now is the time for all organizations to ask similar questions.
Many challenging times lie ahead for our services as budget pressures and decreased operational requirements force us to reshape our missions and units.
However, 10 years of combat has produced an experienced, creative force that has shown the ability to adapt to the conditions to succeed - but it will take contributions from all. Take the upcoming time to challenge yourself, your leaders and shape the future based on the lessons that you have learned.